The Scientific Study of Society

Tradition recognises five social sciences: anthropology, economies, social psychology, sociology, and political science. There has always been some scepticism about social science. In certain quarters today there is much more doubt about the possibility of drawing on scientific information when addressing public policy issues. Attacks on social science, not always well informed, often go hand-in-hand with activity that claims to be social science, yet bears little resemblance to anything scientific. This book makes the case for the scientific study of society by reviewing what social scientists actually do. This is not an abstract discussion. Recent journal literature on several topics such as crime, migration and religion, as studied by anthropology, economics, political science, social psychology and sociology, demonstrate the achievements of social science. The book argues that modest achievements are to be preferred to the immodest claims of social poets and social prophets.